EAST PROVIDENCE — The newest member of the School Committee may be in legal trouble with Rhode Island and Florida.

The city’s Canvassing Authority met in an emergency meeting last night because Stephen A. DeCastro, who was appointed to the board in late August by the City Council, appears to be registered to vote in both states. Documents obtained from the city’s tax assessor’s department and Sunshine State officials also show DeCastro receives tax exemptions from both.

On the advice of legal counsel, Chairwoman Dorothy O’Gara is challenging DeCastro’s voting rights and privileges in Rhode Island. A hearing is slated for Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in City Hall. The end result could affect his eligibility to serve on the School Committee.

DeCastro was not present at the meeting nor was it clear whether he was asked to attend. The meeting’s agenda only stated the board had a “voting registration” issue to discuss.

The three-member Canvassing Authority unanimously agreed, with little discussion, that it has sufficient evidence last night after City Solicitor William Conley Jr. distributed and interpreted a packet of documents. One shows DeCastro owns 66 Fort St. in East Providence and has received the homestead exemption — a 15 percent reduction on the assessed value of his house, which determines the amount of property taxes he pays the city — since April 2005.

The city’s application for a homestead exemption specifically states the applicant attests he or she is a “full time, legal resident” of East Providence and asks if the property will be their “permanent place of residence” as well as whether the applicant gets a homestead exemption in any other city, town or state.

Florida has similar, if not stronger, language in its homestead exemption regulations. The state gives up to $25,000 off the applicant’s property if it is their “primary residence.” Proof that it’s the applicant’s primary residence comes from a Florida driver’s license, a car registered in Florida or if the applicant is registered to vote in Florida at the given address.

Robert Sweat, supervisor of elections in Florida’s Manatee County, sent documents stating that DeCastro applied for a homestead exemption in Florida in 2004 with the address: 75020 Abby Gln, in Bradenton. He listed the East Providence property as his most recent residence.

DeCastro allegedly proved his primary residency by stating he was registered to vote in Florida. Another document from Sweat showed DeCastro registered to vote in Florida on July 27, 2004. On the Florida voting application, he did not list where he had voted previously.

He was granted the Florida homestead exemption since 2005, Conley explained.

Yet the 51-year-old has also been a registered voter in East Providence’s Ward 2 for many years. DeCastro, who is the son of a former city police chief, most recently voted in the 2006, 2004 and 2002 general elections.

“Someone had to start the [investigation into DeCastro] … how did this come about,” asked Canvassing Authority member Peter Barilla Sr.

Conley explained it is his understanding that DeCastro come into the city’s tax assessor’s office to appeal his recent Fort Street property assessment and it was discovered through the routine challenge procedure and checks by a clerk.

Said Barilla, “I just want to know if anyone down there is on a witch hunt,” Barilla said. “I own property in Florida and I challenged my assessment, but no one is after me.”

Board member Thomas Riley said, “I’m assuming from a character standpoint, you’re not registered to vote down there. I own property in New Hampshire and I have the character to not vote there.”

Yet Conley said DeCastro hasn’t yet voted in Florida. He was only registered to vote in Florida. And when Riley asked if having homestead exemptions was felonious, Conley also said the Canvassing Authority doesn’t have authority to entertain the dual tax exemption issue.

Conley told The Journal afterward that East Providence’s tax assessor’s office typically denies an application for an exemption in the city after it discovers the person has second homestead exemption. The city usually doesn’t prosecute, the solicitor said.

Florida does and has. It can criminally prosecute and place a lien on a property for back taxes and penalties. Some Florida property appraisers told the Herald Tribune, in Florida, recently that illegitimate and fraudulent homesteading are among the largest problems they face, resulting in tens of millions of lost tax dollars every year.

apina@projo.com